Clock housing



March 20, 1962 D. MORRISON ETAL CLOCK HOUSING Filed March 12, 1957 I NV ENTORS DAVID MORRISON 650256: P POSTELL ATTY.

United States Patent 3,025,663 CLOCK HOUSING David Morrison and George P. Postell, Athens, Ga., as-

signors to General Time Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 645,516 4 Claims. (Cl. 58-54) The present invention relates generally to clock housing construction and more particularly to retainer clips for securing interfitting clock parts in assembled relation.

It is the general aim of the invention to provide a novel retainer clip construction that is inexpensive, sturdy, easily installed, and exceptionally effective in holding and gripping interfitting parts of a clock housing. More specifically, it is an object to provide such a retainer clip that securely grips the decorative bezel of a clock housing relative to the front frame plate of the clock mechanism so that the parts are held in firm engagement obviating looseness, rattle or rotation of the bezel.

It is also an object to provide a retainer clip of the above type which simplifies clock design in that it is compact and positionable in normally unused space Within a clock housing, and in that it exerts no force directly against the dial face of a clock which would tend to distort the face and require a stronger, more bulky construction.

It is a further object to provide a retainer clip which securely holds the dial assembly of a clock housing in compact relation Within a decorative bezel and permits the edge of the outer clock case or shell to be received and positioned in nested relation Within the bezel to complete an attractive clock housing.

It is a more detailed object to provide a clip of the type described above that is inexpensive to make and use since it is easily and simply formed of bent wire, can be used in a wide variety of differing clock designs and is automatically self-positioning when installed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the attached detailed description and upon reference to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view of a typical clock housing in which a retainer clip formed according to the present invention has been installed.

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the clock dial assembly forming a part of the housing shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the dial assembly shown in FIG. 2 with the retainer clip in its unlatched position. 7

FIG. 4 shows the clip viewed along line 4--4 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a retainer clip embodying the present invention.

While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that we do not intend to limit the invention to that embodiment, but on the contrary, intend to cover alterations, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a clock housing comprising a cover shell 11 and a dial assembly 12. Included within the housing is a clock mechanism (not shown) mounted between a front frame plate 13 and a rear frame plate 14 spaced apart by pillars 15, 16, 17 (see FIG. 2), the front frame plate, as will be seen, forming a part of the dial assembly 12. The cover shell 11 is preferably generally cup shaped and is telescoped over the rear frame plate 14 and the clock mechanism so as to be supported by pillars 18 secured to the frame plate 14. When so supported, the shell 11 together with the dial assembly 12 form an attractive housing or case for the clock.

3,025,663 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 Referring more particularly to the dial assembly 12, it will be noted that the assembly comprises a transparent lens 21, a clock dial plate 22, and the front frame plate 13, all held firmly nested together within a decorative bezel 24. The frame plate 13 peripherally engages the clock dial plate 22 which in turn is set within an annular depression 25 formed within the transparent lens 21. The lens is in snug fitting engagement with an inwardly spun flange 28 forming an integral part of the decorative bezel 24. Journaled in the front frame plate 13 is a conventional shaft assembly 26 extending forwardly through an aperture 27 formed in the clock dial 22 to support clock hands 29.

In accordance with the present invention, the decorative bezel 24 is formed with an inwardly extending rear flange providing a forwardly facing ledge and the frame plate 13 is provided with a plurality of sockets facing the rear flange of the bezel into each of which is anchored a T-shaped retainer clip 40 having arms adapted to seat on and resiliently bear against the rear flange to draw the bezel rearwardly and firmly hold the dial assembly 12 in snugly assembled relation. In the present embodiment, the bezel is formed with an integral, inwardly extending, flange 31 and the frame plate 13 is dished to define a peripheral side wall 32 into which are formed two oppositely spaced openings 33, 34 which serve as sockets for the clips.

In accordance with a detailed aspect of the invention, each of the T-shaped retainer clips 40 comprise a single length of spring wire bent to define a central anchoring loop 41 insertable into a socket opening on the frame plate, and two outwardly diverging locking arms 43, 44 bent upwardly through an angle a from the plane of the loop into a shallow V-sh-aped formation (see FIG. 4). Thus, when the arms 43, 44 are flattened down toward the plane of the loop during installation and are brought to bear against the rear bezel flange 31, a substantial resilient force will be exerted against the flange. In order to provide nesting clearance for the front edge of the shell 11, the ends of the arms 43, 44 are sharply bent to form tips 45, 46 which, when the clip is installed, extend rearwardly along the side wall of the bezel and generally perpendicular to the rear bezel flange 31 (FIG. 1). Preferably the tips 45, 46 are bent slightly from the perpendicular so that they are inclined radially outward when the clip is installed, and in addition the tips are cut off squarely to present sharp, nonrounded edges 47, '48 respectively which tend to bite into the relatively softer metal of the bezel to prevent rotation of the bezel. The crotches formed by the bent tips 45, 46 tend to insure centering of the front edge of the shell 11 within the bezel.

In order to avoid any tendency of the arms 43, 44 to slip out of engagement with the bezel flange 31 once they are seated, the arms 43, 44 are bent upwardly from a true T configuration through an angle 3 (see FIG. 3) so that the tip 45, 46 extend slightly outward of the :bezel flange 31 when relaxed. The arms must therefore be tensioned back in the direction of the loop 41 to bring the tips 45, 46 to bear against the bezel flange 31.

Assembly of a clock employing the present clip construction may be accomplished quickly and simply as follows: The clips are inserted into their sockets 33, 34 in the front frame plate following which the lens and bezel are placed in position. At this point the arms of the clips lie outside of the bezel as shown in FIG. 3. Fingertip pressure is then applied to the arms to urge them downwardly and radially inward, so that they snap into seated position within the bezel. The shell 11 is then mounted in place, its front edge being nested within the bezel as shown. It is found that once seated the clips hold the assembly together positively and disassembly, as may be required for service or the like, can only be accomplished by following the above steps in the reverse order.

In the preferred embodiment, the loop 41 is formed having a narrowed throat 42 and is of such a width that the loop may be inserted in one of the socket openings 33, 34

only by being slightly, compressed. Thus, when the wide portion 49 of .theloop41 passes through an opening 33,

34, thelocp .will tend to spring open and the throat 42 the wide-spread locking arms makes additional clips unnecessary.

It should be noted that the resilient force of the clip 40 is exerted on the frame plate 13 solely at the socket open ings 33, 34 for-med in its side wall 32, and that there is a clearance 51 (see FIG. 1') between the anchoring loop 41 and the surface, of the plate 13. This isdue to the complete balance of forces achieved in the disclosed construction. That is,-the arms 43 of each of the clips 40 exert a twistingforce between thebezel 24 and the frame plate 13 which is exactly countered by the opposite twisting force exerted by the arms 44. The combined effect of these twisting forces is a translatory force directed inwardly of the frame plate 13 from. each clip socket and, since the two sockets are directly opposed, these translatory forces are likewise balanced. Thus, there is no distortingforce exerted by the clipupon either the frame plate 13 or the clock dial 22, and the retaining force is exerted on the frame plate 13 at the socket openings 33, 34 where due to the dished configuration, the plate is strongest.

It will be apparent that because of the simple construction of the retainer clips 40, they are simple and economical to manufacture. Also, it has been found that the clips greatly aid the design of clock housings since they occupy space previously unused and can in no way, interfere with any of the clock mechanisms. In addition, clips of the preferred design may be used in any one of a Wide variety of clock housing designs, including square or rectangular-faced clocks or thosehaving decorative bezel and transparent face'configurations differing from those illustrated herein.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a clock construction including a front frame plate, a bezel having a narrow flange at its rear edge turned inwardly and dimensioned to telescopingly receive the frame plate, said bezel having abutment means within its forward edge portion for seating of said frame plate therein, said frame plate having a plurality of spaced sockets generally facing said narrow rear flange, T-shaped retainer clips each having an anchoring portion inserted within one of said sockets and also having diverging locking armslhookingly engaging said flange, each of said arms being tensioned to exert forces outwardly and rearwardly of the rear bezel flange so that the bezel is firmly held in assembled relation, an enclosing shell, and means for fastening said shell with its front edge adjoining said bezel.

2. In a clock housing construction, dial assembly comprising, a bezel having a forward flange and a narrow flange at its rear edge turned inwardly, a clock dial, a frame plate fitting within said bezel and sandwiching said clock dial between itself and said forward flange of the bezel, said frame plate defining a socket generally facing said narrow rear flange, a retainer clip anchored within said socket and having diverging locking arms hookingly engaging said rear flange, each of said arms being tensioned to exert forces outwardly and rearwardly of the rear bezel flange so that the dial assembly is firmly held in assembled relation, said arms having sharply bent tips which contact said rear flange perpendicularly and permit the nested reception of the forward edge of a clock case within the bezel.

3. In a clock housing construction, a dial assembly comprising an annular bezel having a cylindrical body with a forward flange portion and a narrow flange at its rear edge bent inwardly, a clock dial, a transparent dial lens, a frame plate fitting within said bezel and sandwiching said clock dial and said transparent dial lens between itself and said forward flange portion of the bezel, said frame platehaving a surface which faces saidrear flange when the'plate is installed withinsaid bezel, said surface defininga socket opening, a-retainer clip having an anchoring loop slightlycompressed within said opening so as to resiliently grip the sides of the opening, said clip having oppositely diverging'lockingarms hookingly engaging said'rear flange,each of said arms being tensioned to exert forces outwardly and rearwardly of the rear I ing cut ends and being bent to define a anchoring loop at its center portion with two locking arms formedby the ends of the Wire length bent to diverge upwardly from the plane of the loop and outwardly to define a T-shaped clip, said anchoring loop having a narrowed throat forming a spring detent andbeing fitted in said'socket, said locking arms having their tip portions sharply angled relative thereto with said out ends abutting said flange so that the locking arms are tensioned down toward said plane and back in the direction of said loop and the resilient force of the tensioned clip is exerted through the cut ends of the length of the spring wire from which the clip is formed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,246 Atkinson et a1. May 31, 1881 1,116,764 Treganza Nov. 10, 1914 1,308,947 Hale July 8, 1919 1,714,289 Albright May 21, 1929 2,100,017 Van Uum Nov. 23, 1937 2,208,008 McLauchlin July 16, 1940 2,267,558 Fernberg Dec. 23, 1941 2,344,716 Mears Mar. 21, 1944 2,737,009 Piquerez Mar. 6, 1956 

